A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 771: Daily Life

Xia Ruqing nodded vigorously.

"Yes, this is just a minor injury!"

Zhao Junyao: "..."

Although the look in this girl’s eyes was particularly aggravating, he still found his heart softening. What should I do?

He snorted coldly and ignored her.

A moment later, the Imperial Physician arrived.

After examining the wound, Imperial Doctor Zhang declared it was nothing serious. He left behind a roll of fine cotton gauze and a bottle of excellent golden sore medicine, then departed. After all, she was Her Highness with a phoenix constitution. He couldn’t very well dress the wound himself, could he?!

Thus, the arduous task of bandaging the wound fell to Zhao Junyao.

Seeing him looking somewhat unsure, Xia Ruqing quickly said, "Your Majesty, let this consort do it herself."

Please don’t make it hurt more! It’s already painful enough!

Seeing the fear in her eyes, Zhao Junyao smirked.

"Qingqing, don’t be afraid. I will surely bandage it well for you!"

Upon hearing this, Xia Ruqing felt a shiver down her spine.

"Well... Your Majesty, your person is invaluable..."

"Ah... this little matter is nothing. Come!"

Having said that, Zhao Junyao picked up the gauze and ointment, pulling her to sit beside him.

Then, he began to cut the gauze with scissors.

Seeing his clumsy movements, Xia Ruqing looked at her finger with some melancholy.

Ah! You’re probably going to suffer today! Endure it, and hope he... torments me a little less!

Mm! I can only pray!

Zhao Junyao finished cutting the gauze, applied the ointment for her, and carefully wrapped her finger, layer by layer.

His movements were gentle and exceedingly careful.

His expression was meticulously serious.

Illuminated by the light streaming in from the window, his profile was handsome and striking.

Xia Ruqing was so mesmerized that she lost herself for a moment.

So handsome! What a devilishly charming man! A true heartbreaker!

A man like this really should be whisked away to the modern era to enjoy monogamy!

By then, I’d probably be the envy of everyone! Haha...

The more she thought about it, the more delighted she became, and Xia Ruqing almost laughed out loud.

Meanwhile, Zhao Junyao clumsily finished wrapping the gauze. When he looked up, he saw her with a dreamy, love-struck expression.

He...

"AHEM! Qingqing..."

Xia Ruqing quickly snapped back to reality.

"Your Majesty!"

Zhao Junyao hummed calmly, his gaze falling on her finger.

Xia Ruqing followed his gaze and looked down.

She stood there, completely stunned!

She saw that he had wrapped her relatively slender index finger until it resembled a radish in size.

Thick in the middle and thin at both ends, it was difficult even to move!

And looking at Zhao Junyao, he had an air of pride and self-satisfaction, clearly expecting praise.

Hmm...

"Your Majesty is truly... exceptionally skilled!"

It took her a good while to come up with that phrase, but she was quite satisfied with it.

Zhao Junyao was also very pleased.

After examining it for a moment, he finally sighed.

"We agreed that you would attend to me day and night, but now it seems... I am not so fortunate!"

"You should go back and rest well!"

Saying this, he feigned a look of heartbreak and extreme reluctance.

Xia Ruqing could hardly bear to watch.

I’ve seen shameless people, but never anyone *this* shameless! It was clearly him who didn’t want me to...

Thinking this, Xia Ruqing suddenly paused.

Perhaps... he couldn’t bear to see me tired, so he created a graceful way out for himself?

She looked at her hand, then at him.

Xia Ruqing felt a warmth spread through her heart, like a spring breeze caressing her face, gentle and comforting.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Mm!"

Xia Ruqing curtsied and then left.

Zhao Junyao watched her retreating figure, smiling to himself.

So you do have some conscience after all! You understand my kind intentions!

「Later that afternoon」

It began to rain outside.

Xia Ruqing returned in a heated sedan chair.

As soon as she arrived, she heard the two little ones awaken.

They cried for a moment but were soon soothed by the Sisters, drinking water and nursing, looking very well-behaved.

They were nothing like the fussing pair they were when she had been there earlier.

Xia Ruqing felt a pang of jealousy.

You two ungrateful little things! You’re doing quite well without your mother around, aren’t you!

Sister Huang quickly chimed in with a smile, "Your Highness should be pleased. The Little Prince is so young, yet he can already recognize his mother!"

"When he grows up, he will surely be very intelligent!"

Xia Ruqing sighed softly.

"Never mind, never mind! I don’t expect them to achieve great meritorious deeds or establish careers!"

"A lifetime of peace, safety, and happiness will be more than enough!"

Having said that, Xia Ruqing went to the inner room to change her clothes.

Afterward, she went to the small cradles, watching the two little bundles nurse.

The two babies were already a month and a half old.

Their features were gradually becoming more defined; they were chubby, fair, and rosy.

With their small mouths latched on, sucking rhythmically, they looked endearing and adorable.

Xia Ruqing’s heart melted at the sight.

Although she often called them little rascals, how could she not love the children she had borne herself?

She was overjoyed at this moment.

One moment she looked at this one, the next moment at that one.

She occasionally joked with the Sisters, discussing trivial topics like, "Who is the older brother? Who is the younger brother? Do they look alike?" and so on.

However, she was thoroughly enjoying herself.

「And so, life slowly went on」

The turmoil caused by the rebellion of the King of Yan of Guangnan and his son gradually subsided.

New and endless streams of gossip emerged in the Capital City, giving the common folk fresh topics for their after-meal conversations.

Meanwhile, in the palace, the Empress Dowager had also recovered after more than a month of recuperation.

Though the matter of Prince Yan had deeply wounded her, she still had her own son and future plans to consider. She couldn’t possibly allow herself to collapse so easily.

As for her past involvement with Prince Yan, Zhao Junyao would ensure it was suppressed, if only for the sake of the Late Emperor’s reputation.

However, suppressing it didn’t necessarily mean acceptance.

At least, since Prince Yan’s death, Zhao Junyao had never again visited the Empress Dowager.

For routine greetings, he would send someone to inquire on his behalf; he himself had not paid a personal visit.

For now, he ensured her safety, but only because she was his birth mother.

If it had been any other Imperial Noble Consort, he would have killed her with his own hands to appease his imperial father’s spirit in heaven!

Not like this, allowing her to live on, a constant, painful reminder of how his imperial father had been betrayed!

「Regardless of life or death, joy or sorrow」

More than a month was enough time to dilute many things.

And the atmosphere in the palace had long since returned to normal.

In mid-October, Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion presented an invitation to the palace.

"The Master Prince’s full moon banquet!"

Xia Ruqing smiled as she received the invitation.

"Good! When the Little Heir was born, it coincided with his father just returning to court, so it wasn’t celebrated grandly!"

"Now... it’s just time for his full month celebration!"

"I must prepare a generous gift. This is my brother’s first son!"

"My little nephew!"

Zi Yue smiled.

"Your Highness, you’ve mentioned it several times. Even if this servant were slow-witted, I’d have remembered by now!"

Saying this, she turned and went to the storeroom, returning with a gift register.

"This servant has selected these. Please take a look, Your Highness!"

"Mm!"

Xia Ruqing took it and examined it carefully.

「Meanwhile, outside the palace」

The Hou Mansion was preparing for the Little Heir’s full moon banquet, scheduled in two days.

The mansion was festooned with lanterns and colorful streamers, bustling with excitement!